Connector part and connector assembly for use in a severe environment

1. An electrical connector part of an electrical connector for use underwater or in a wet or severe environment, the electrical connector part comprising:

a pin, projecting axially forwardly from a support, the pin including an axially extending electrically conductive portion;

an axially extending sleeve including fiber reinforced plastic around said conductive portion; and

a protective layer around the sleeve to prevent exposure of the sleeve to ambient conditions when the pin is exposed to ambient conditions,

wherein the electrically conductive portion comprises a core axially extending through, and forwardly and rearwardly beyond, the protective layer.

2. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the pin comprises a shoulder disposed in the support to prevent forward movement of the pin relative to the support.

3. The electrical connector part of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve comprises a load bearing portion at the shoulder.

4. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a fiber filled polymer.

5. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the fiber reinforcement comprises glass fibers.

6. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the fiber content in the fiber reinforced plastic is between about 20% and about 60%.

7. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer comprises a plastic or a polymer, in particular an engineering polymer.

8. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer does not have fiber reinforcement.

9. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer comprises a polyaryletherketone (PAEK).

10. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , comprising a conductive impermeable layer between the sleeve and the protective layer.

11. The electrical connector part of claim 10 , wherein the conductive impermeable layer extends axially rearwardly of the protective layer.

12. The electrical connector part of claim 10 , wherein the conductive impermeable layer comprises a metal coating.

13. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

the electrical connector part of claim 1 ; and

a second electrical connector part engaged with the electrical connector part of claim 1 , to establish an electrical connection.

14. The electrical connector assembly of claim 13 , wherein the second electrical connector part includes a seal around an opening to receive the pin in sealed manner when the first and second electrical connector parts are inter-engaged.

15. The electrical connector assembly of claim 14 , wherein the electrical connector part further comprises a conductive impermeable layer between the sleeve and the protective layer, and wherein the conductive impermeable layer extends along the pin in a region which, when the first and second electrical connector parts are inter-engaged, is disposed radially inwardly of the seal of the second electrical connector part.

16. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the fiber reinforcement consists of glass fibers.

17. The electrical connector part of claim 6 , wherein the fiber content in the fiber reinforced plastic is between about 30% and about 50%.

18. The electrical connector part of claim 17 , wherein the fiber content in the fiber reinforced plastic is about 40%.

19. The electrical connector part of claim 9 , wherein the protective layer comprises polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polyetherketoneketone (PEKK).

20. The electrical connector part of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer consists of a polyaryletherketone (PAEK).

21. The electrical connector part of claim 20 , wherein the protective layer consists of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polyetherketoneketone (PEKK).

22. The electrical connector part of claim 11 , wherein the conductive impermeable layer comprises a metal coating.